Fire-kindler



(No Model.)

- W.'J'. BENNETT. I FIRE KINDLY-R.

No. 569,910. Patented 0013.20, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. BENNETT, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.

FIRE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,910, dated October20, 1896. Application filed January 31, 1896. Serial No. 577,566. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BENNETT, of Fond du Lac, in the county ofFond du Lac and State of Wisconsin, have invented an ImprovedFire-Kindler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to firekindlers, and particularly tothat class thereof known as absorbent kindlers, in which an absorbentbody is filled with oil or similar liquid combustibles in order to starta fire.

The object of my invention is to provide a kindler which is exceedinglycheap and simple in construction, one which can be easily placed inoperation, and one which will consume all the oil absorbed thereby, andthus economize in the use of oil, and at the same time provide a kindlerwhich will burn steadier and longer than one in which the combustion isnot so complete.

With these objects in view my'invention consists in the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of the various parts, all of which will befully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a viewshowing my improved fire-kindler, the handle being shown folded indotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional View. Figs. 3 and 4 show details ofconstruction.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable handle A, which ispreferably formed of wire twisted together to provide a suitable shanka, a loop or ring a at the rear end, and a hook to at the forward end.

Near the forward end the twists in the wire are separated some distanceto provide a loop B, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

The absorbent body 0 is in the shape of alow or fiat cylinder, and ispreferably composed of a series of asbestos disks D, separated atsuitable intervals by means of metallic disks E of foraminous form, andupon the upper and lower faces of the asbestos disks are arranged theupper and lower metallic plates F.

The upper and lower metal plates, the intermediate foraminous metalplates, and the asbestos disks are all perforated centrally to receive abinder screw or rivet G, having a a head 9 at one end, and upon theopposite end is fitted a nut g, by means of which all of the variousparts composing the absorbent body are closely united. The binding screwor rivet passes through a loop B in the handle, as clearly shown, bymeans of which the absorbent body is connected to said handle. The upperand lower metallic disks are radially corrugated or fluted, as shown atH.

Now in operation the absorbent body is soaked in the can of coal-oil orkerosene, or other inflammable liquid, and thoroughly impregnated withsaid combustible. When it is desired to light the fire, the absorbentbody is withdrawn from the combustible, lighted and placed beneath thegrate supporting the fuel to be lighted, and the hook 64 at the forwardend of the handle, serves the purpose of holding the kindler in placeunder said grate, inasmuch as said hook is fastened to one of the barsof said grate.

The fluted or corrugated surfaces of the upper and lower metal platesform a series of channels for the heat to pass to the center of theabsorbent body, thus completely vaporizing all of the liquid combustiblecontained within said absorbent body, includingthat at the center, andthe foraminous metallic disks also conduct the heat rapidly from thesides of said body to the interior thereof, th us aiding materially inthe vaporization of the combustible at the center.

The handle being constructed of wire can be bent around, as shown indotted lines, Fig. 1, whenever desired, to bring the loop ct intoengagement with the hook a thus forming a more compact body for thepurpose of shipping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improved fire-kindler, comprising a suitable handle, and anabsorbent body arranged thereon, said absorbent body consisting of aseries of asbestos disks, upper and lower metallic disks, andintermediate metallic disks of foramino us construction, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. An improved fire-kindler, comprising a suitable handle, having a hookat one end,

and a loop at the other, of an absorbent body and nut, substantially asshown and dearranged upon said handle, said absorbent scribed.'

body consisting of a series of asbestos disks, In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature upper and lower metallic disks radially c0r in thepresence of two Witnesses.

rugated or fluted, and intermediate forarni- \V. J. BENNETT. nousmetallic disks arranged between the as- Witnesses: bestos disks, all ofsaid parts being held to- P. G. VAN BLARCOM,

gether by means of a suitable binding screw ALEX Gr. DANA.

